Big Ten: Kyle Kalis
Kyle Kalis writes 
: Michigan 2012 offensive line signee Kyle Kalis blogs about his last month of high school, his workout regiment and partners, and his desire to be a Wolverine.
The Den chat wrap: Tom VanHaaren and Chantel Jennings discuss recruiting, among other things, in a feature exclusive to members of The Den forum.
: Michigan 2012 offensive line signee Kyle Kalis blogs about his last month of high school, his workout regiment and partners, and his desire to be a Wolverine.
The Den chat wrap
: Tom VanHaaren and Chantel Jennings discuss recruiting, among other things, in a feature exclusive to members of The Den forum.Tight end, OL depth top Borges' concerns
March, 22, 2012
Mar 22
2:30
PM ET
By
Brian Bennett | ESPN.com
Michigan offensive coordinator Al Borges likes what he has to work with this spring. And who wouldn't be excited about Denard Robinson and Fitz Toussaint returning in the backfield as the offensive core?
But like every team, the Wolverines have some issues. One of the key concerns is building a solid two-deep along the offensive line.
"It's a position where we feel good about the kids who are playing," Borges said. "We just need to enhance our depth."
Michigan must replace Rimington Trophy winner David Molk at center, and Ricky Barnum will get the first crack at the gig. Barnum was injured most of last season, and has played left guard in the past.
"He's athletic," Borges said. "Ricky can move. He's really has the profile more of a center. He's smart, he understands who to block and he's played some guard, which should have some carry-over to center. So I think Ricky is going to be fine."
Making up for Molk's leadership might be the toughest task this spring. Borges said Barnum, left tackle Taylor Lewan, and senior guard Patrick Omameh should help pick up the slack in that area.
The starting group up front should be solid, with senior Elliott Mealer taking over at left guard, and Michael Schofield moving to right tackle to replace Mark Huyge. Behind them is a lot of inexperience. Borges said redshirt freshmen Jack Miller and Chris Bryant should contribute. And an incoming freshman like Kyle Kalis has a chance to crack the depth chart.
"We'll see how quick they can pick it up," Borges said.
Another area of concern is tight end, which loses departed seniors Kevin Koger and Steve Watson. Borges said senior Brandon Moore, who has played sparingly, and Ricardo Miller, who's more of a receiving tight end, will get the bulk of the work this spring. But it's a position that remains unsettled.
"We're looking at other kids, and the jury is still out," Borges said. "It's a position where, if a freshman came in and showed something, he could probably make a contribution."
Incoming recruit Devin Funchess could be that guy, though he'll likely need to put on some weight. The Wolverines also signed A.J. Williams as a tight end prospect.
"Seeing who's going to come to the forefront and be our starting tight end this spring, that's huge," Borges said.
But like every team, the Wolverines have some issues. One of the key concerns is building a solid two-deep along the offensive line.
"It's a position where we feel good about the kids who are playing," Borges said. "We just need to enhance our depth."
Michigan must replace Rimington Trophy winner David Molk at center, and Ricky Barnum will get the first crack at the gig. Barnum was injured most of last season, and has played left guard in the past.
"He's athletic," Borges said. "Ricky can move. He's really has the profile more of a center. He's smart, he understands who to block and he's played some guard, which should have some carry-over to center. So I think Ricky is going to be fine."
Making up for Molk's leadership might be the toughest task this spring. Borges said Barnum, left tackle Taylor Lewan, and senior guard Patrick Omameh should help pick up the slack in that area.
The starting group up front should be solid, with senior Elliott Mealer taking over at left guard, and Michael Schofield moving to right tackle to replace Mark Huyge. Behind them is a lot of inexperience. Borges said redshirt freshmen Jack Miller and Chris Bryant should contribute. And an incoming freshman like Kyle Kalis has a chance to crack the depth chart.
"We'll see how quick they can pick it up," Borges said.
Another area of concern is tight end, which loses departed seniors Kevin Koger and Steve Watson. Borges said senior Brandon Moore, who has played sparingly, and Ricardo Miller, who's more of a receiving tight end, will get the bulk of the work this spring. But it's a position that remains unsettled.
"We're looking at other kids, and the jury is still out," Borges said. "It's a position where, if a freshman came in and showed something, he could probably make a contribution."
Incoming recruit Devin Funchess could be that guy, though he'll likely need to put on some weight. The Wolverines also signed A.J. Williams as a tight end prospect.
"Seeing who's going to come to the forefront and be our starting tight end this spring, that's huge," Borges said.
It's a progressive culture. Most of them travel by zipline.
- The Big Ten's playoff plan makes a lot of sense, David Haugh writes. It's not a perfect plan, but it's a good start.
- Pat Harty wonders whether Kirk Ferentz's second act at Iowa will be better than Hayden Fry's. Ferentz likes familiarity more than flashiness when hiring assistants, Mike Hlas writes. Running back Marcus Coker made the decision to leave Iowa.
- Urban Meyer reiterates that there's no gentlemen's agreement in the Big Ten. Ohio State recruiting target Stefon Diggs still hasn't made up his mind.
- Ross Els talks about his new duties as Nebraska's recruiting coordinator.
- Michigan's regents OK the Big House to be used for the NHL's Winter Classic. Michigan offensive line recruit Kyle Kalis boasts a bruising style of play.
- Running back recruit Akeel Lynch talks about signing with Penn State. The Joe Paterno memorial services cost Penn State $29,000. Jay Paterno thanks Penn Staters for their support.
- Check out how Russell Wilson learned Wisconsin's playbook so quickly last summer.
- Mountain West commish Craig Thompson is open to returning to Minnesota, his alma mater, as athletic director. If Minnesota signs off, its season opener at UNLV will kick off on Thursday night.
- Former Northwestern and Minnesota offensive coordinator Mike Dunbar lands at Northern Illinois.
- Indiana track recruit Cornelius Strickland hopes to play football for the Hoosiers as well.
- Illinois fans watching the end of Super Bowl XLVI might have been reminded of Lou Tepper's decision at Minnesota in 1996.
- Rivals.com names its top recruiters in the Big Ten.
Urban Meyer hasn't coached a game yet at Ohio State, but his impact on the Big Ten has already been massive.
Though he was only hired in late November, Meyer managed to put together an impressive first recruiting class that ESPN ranked as the sixth-best in the country. Several players in the class were at one time committed to other league schools. The Buckeyes put together one of the best groups of defensive linemen in the country as well.
I caught up with Meyer on Thursday morning to talk about the class, whether there's such a thing as a "gentleman's agreement" in recruiting, and how he expects his recruits to see the field right away.
Did you expect to sign a class this highly rated, given how little time you had to put it all together?
Urban Meyer: I think it exceeded expectations a little, especially on the D-line. If you had told me in December that we would get those four defensive linemen in this class and the two offensive tackles ... that's what separated this class I think, from being pretty good to being really good.
The class is heavy on the defensive and offensive lines. How much of that was need-based and how much of was just that's what you need to build a foundation?
UM: I think anytime you get a premiere guy like Noah Spence, he knows that we need him. That's the way it is nowadays. Kids want to go somewhere where there's a need. The same with the two offensive tackles, Taylor Decker and Kyle Dodson. We just don't have those body types right now in our program, and they know that. We made that real clear. Their opportunity to play is going to be real quick here.
How did you go about evaluating what you needed in recruiting when you hadn't seen the players on the current roster much in person?
UM: Well, that's where Luke Fickell and Mike Vrabel and Stan Drayton and when Taver Johnson was here, they were the ones [who helped]. Then when I went out to watch practice, I just walked out on the practice field and just kind of watched for a second, and I could tell our offensive line didn't look the way we needed them to look. I could tell we were short on pass-rushers off the edge. And then linebackers. So those are the three areas that we had to get just to be functional. So we attacked it as hard as we could and it all came together.
What do you like about the three big defensive linemen in this class -- Noah Spence, Adolphus Washington and Se'Vonn Pittman?
UM: Well, number one is they're competitors. They're very high-character guys. To have three guys like that with high character who are very good people, I hate to say that's hard to come across, but it is. And they're all different body types. You've got Noah Spence, who's the pure speed guy coming off the edge, relentless effort. Then you've got Adolphus Washington, who's very thick, lower body and more power. And then you've got Se'Von Pittman, who's a little bit of both. So they all complement each other.
In your experience, and understanding every player is different, how long does it take players with that talent level to make an impact on the field?
UM: We're going to rotate them right away. We don't redshirt here at Ohio State. We're changing that up. We're going to have the culture out here that there's no redshirting. If you don't play here, it's because you're not good enough. It's not because we're holding you back. We're going to recruit the kind of player where we want them on the field right now. That's the approach we took at Florida, and it's the approach we're going to take here.
Is the same thing true with offensive linemen? People say that's the position where it takes guys longer to develop.
UM: Well, Maurkice Pouncey jumped right into it [at Florida], started every game, and in three years he went to the NFL. So if you're recruiting, you lay it out there for them. Usually, linemen take a little longer, but we've played with some young players before.
You mentioned Wednesday that you're not happy with the speed at the offensive skill positions. You're not necessarily done with this class, but was that just not out there for you this year, or is it more of a priority going forward?
UM: Yeah, we're not happy where we're at with our speed and skill on offense. I don't know what we have. I saw on film and looked at the stats, and you would say from statistical analysis and just evaluation that we're not very good at all. But I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt and see what happens in spring practice and evaluate them in the offseason, which starts Monday. But we're not where we need to be, by a long shot.
When you learned about the bowl ban, was there a time when you thought this class wouldn't come together nearly as well as it did?
UM: Oh yeah. Devastated. I would say, panic button in December. Absolutely.
What does it tell you about the players who decided to sign with you anyway?
UM: It tells you about the power of this program, too. I mean, Ohio State is Ohio State. It's the most powerful alumni base in the country. It's one of the great stadiums in the history of college football. A great tradition and a great city. So there are so many strengths about it that obviously overcame the negative hit we took.
Is recruiting in the Midwest and primarily vs. Big Ten schools different than recruiting in the SEC? The SEC has a reputation of being more ruthless.
UM: A little bit, but it's hard for me to articulate that. It was a little bit different, but there is still a lot of intense recruiting that goes on up north, as well.
There were a couple of coaches who criticized you for recruiting players who had committed to their schools. I liked the way you answered that question on Wednesday. Is there ever such a thing as a gentleman's agreement in recruiting, or is that a phony thing?
UM: Actually, Will Muschamp and I talked about that, about if a guy is previously committed. Up here, I was hired, and we covered our state and said to players, "Would you be interested?" We had one or two that said they would be interested, and others recruited us. Se'Von Pittman and Taylor Decker came after us.
Coming in as a new head coach at a program, would you even be doing your job if you didn't check in on those recruits?
UM: You've got a responsibility to your home state. Absolutely. There's not a coach in America who's not going to do that, not going to check his own state. You take a job, you're going to check your in-state players to see if they're interested. And if they are, then come on now, let's talk about it. And if they're not ... The young man up at St. Edward [offensive lineman Kyle Kalis, who signed with Michigan] we asked. He said, "I'm solid, I'm good." We said, "Good luck," and we moved on. I didn't call him again.
Could you get a sense of how much just having a coach in place and some stability at Ohio State, as well as your background, helped recruits change their mind?
UM: I think any time there's instability, that causes anxiety for a recruit. So I know with Se'Von Pittman, his comment to me was, "I always wanted to be a Buckeye. I just wanted it to be stable."
There are going to be lingering questions about your health, energy level, etc. Recruiting takes a lot of energy and time. How did you feel out there recruiting again, with all the time and travel it required?
UM: Oh, it was great. Great. No issue at all.
Jamal Marcus was a signing-day addition for you, and you talked about how he blew you away on tape. You really didn't know anything about him before that?
UM: That was one of those Christmas presents I unwrapped when they showed me the highlight video. I mean, he's as good as I've seen on a highlight video. Then you meet the kid and he's a beautiful kid, great family. Everett Withers identified him and brought him up. It's almost a shame to say this, but the first time I shook his hand and even talked to him was when he got on campus. And he blew us away.
He's been listed some places as a linebacker, others as a defensive end ...
UM: Oh, he's a linebacker. Linebacker all the way.
What are the priorities now for you over the next month or so before spring practice begins?
UM: We have a bunch of new coaches, a completely new offensive scheme. So the next month, the priority is to get around our players, get to know them with the new coaches. And No. 2 is to install an offense and defense, and make sure everybody is on the same page, so when we hit March we're up and running.
I talked with offensive coordinator Tom Herman recently, and he said he'd be blending the offense with your philosophies. How is that going on right now?
UM: That's all we're doing. I've hired some very good coaches, very successful coaches. We have a system I have great belief in, but I use the term enhance. If we can enhance our system, we will. And so far we have. It's going very well.
What kind of reports have you gotten from strength coach Mickey Marotti on how offseason workouts are going?
UM: Good. But we haven't really hit it hard yet. We've been kind of introduced to our offseason program. I meet with Mickey nonstop. Constant evaluation. But so far, it's mostly just been indoctrination. On Monday, it starts for real.
How much help has Luke Fickell been in this entire transition process?
UM: Well, there's no agenda with him. He has a true passion and love for Ohio State, and he's a very quality football coach and family man. It's a perfect fit, and his stability and relationships really helped us.
How much are you working on the 2013 class right now?
UM: Oh, we're killing it. We're all over it.
Though he was only hired in late November, Meyer managed to put together an impressive first recruiting class that ESPN ranked as the sixth-best in the country. Several players in the class were at one time committed to other league schools. The Buckeyes put together one of the best groups of defensive linemen in the country as well.
[+] Enlarge
Andrew Weber/US PresswireNew Ohio State coach Urban Meyer made an immediate impact on the recruiting trail.
Andrew Weber/US PresswireNew Ohio State coach Urban Meyer made an immediate impact on the recruiting trail.Did you expect to sign a class this highly rated, given how little time you had to put it all together?
Urban Meyer: I think it exceeded expectations a little, especially on the D-line. If you had told me in December that we would get those four defensive linemen in this class and the two offensive tackles ... that's what separated this class I think, from being pretty good to being really good.
The class is heavy on the defensive and offensive lines. How much of that was need-based and how much of was just that's what you need to build a foundation?
UM: I think anytime you get a premiere guy like Noah Spence, he knows that we need him. That's the way it is nowadays. Kids want to go somewhere where there's a need. The same with the two offensive tackles, Taylor Decker and Kyle Dodson. We just don't have those body types right now in our program, and they know that. We made that real clear. Their opportunity to play is going to be real quick here.
How did you go about evaluating what you needed in recruiting when you hadn't seen the players on the current roster much in person?
UM: Well, that's where Luke Fickell and Mike Vrabel and Stan Drayton and when Taver Johnson was here, they were the ones [who helped]. Then when I went out to watch practice, I just walked out on the practice field and just kind of watched for a second, and I could tell our offensive line didn't look the way we needed them to look. I could tell we were short on pass-rushers off the edge. And then linebackers. So those are the three areas that we had to get just to be functional. So we attacked it as hard as we could and it all came together.
What do you like about the three big defensive linemen in this class -- Noah Spence, Adolphus Washington and Se'Vonn Pittman?
UM: Well, number one is they're competitors. They're very high-character guys. To have three guys like that with high character who are very good people, I hate to say that's hard to come across, but it is. And they're all different body types. You've got Noah Spence, who's the pure speed guy coming off the edge, relentless effort. Then you've got Adolphus Washington, who's very thick, lower body and more power. And then you've got Se'Von Pittman, who's a little bit of both. So they all complement each other.
In your experience, and understanding every player is different, how long does it take players with that talent level to make an impact on the field?
UM: We're going to rotate them right away. We don't redshirt here at Ohio State. We're changing that up. We're going to have the culture out here that there's no redshirting. If you don't play here, it's because you're not good enough. It's not because we're holding you back. We're going to recruit the kind of player where we want them on the field right now. That's the approach we took at Florida, and it's the approach we're going to take here.
Is the same thing true with offensive linemen? People say that's the position where it takes guys longer to develop.
UM: Well, Maurkice Pouncey jumped right into it [at Florida], started every game, and in three years he went to the NFL. So if you're recruiting, you lay it out there for them. Usually, linemen take a little longer, but we've played with some young players before.
You mentioned Wednesday that you're not happy with the speed at the offensive skill positions. You're not necessarily done with this class, but was that just not out there for you this year, or is it more of a priority going forward?
UM: Yeah, we're not happy where we're at with our speed and skill on offense. I don't know what we have. I saw on film and looked at the stats, and you would say from statistical analysis and just evaluation that we're not very good at all. But I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt and see what happens in spring practice and evaluate them in the offseason, which starts Monday. But we're not where we need to be, by a long shot.
When you learned about the bowl ban, was there a time when you thought this class wouldn't come together nearly as well as it did?
UM: Oh yeah. Devastated. I would say, panic button in December. Absolutely.
What does it tell you about the players who decided to sign with you anyway?
UM: It tells you about the power of this program, too. I mean, Ohio State is Ohio State. It's the most powerful alumni base in the country. It's one of the great stadiums in the history of college football. A great tradition and a great city. So there are so many strengths about it that obviously overcame the negative hit we took.
Is recruiting in the Midwest and primarily vs. Big Ten schools different than recruiting in the SEC? The SEC has a reputation of being more ruthless.
UM: A little bit, but it's hard for me to articulate that. It was a little bit different, but there is still a lot of intense recruiting that goes on up north, as well.
There were a couple of coaches who criticized you for recruiting players who had committed to their schools. I liked the way you answered that question on Wednesday. Is there ever such a thing as a gentleman's agreement in recruiting, or is that a phony thing?
UM: Actually, Will Muschamp and I talked about that, about if a guy is previously committed. Up here, I was hired, and we covered our state and said to players, "Would you be interested?" We had one or two that said they would be interested, and others recruited us. Se'Von Pittman and Taylor Decker came after us.
Coming in as a new head coach at a program, would you even be doing your job if you didn't check in on those recruits?
UM: You've got a responsibility to your home state. Absolutely. There's not a coach in America who's not going to do that, not going to check his own state. You take a job, you're going to check your in-state players to see if they're interested. And if they are, then come on now, let's talk about it. And if they're not ... The young man up at St. Edward [offensive lineman Kyle Kalis, who signed with Michigan] we asked. He said, "I'm solid, I'm good." We said, "Good luck," and we moved on. I didn't call him again.
Could you get a sense of how much just having a coach in place and some stability at Ohio State, as well as your background, helped recruits change their mind?
UM: I think any time there's instability, that causes anxiety for a recruit. So I know with Se'Von Pittman, his comment to me was, "I always wanted to be a Buckeye. I just wanted it to be stable."
There are going to be lingering questions about your health, energy level, etc. Recruiting takes a lot of energy and time. How did you feel out there recruiting again, with all the time and travel it required?
UM: Oh, it was great. Great. No issue at all.
Jamal Marcus was a signing-day addition for you, and you talked about how he blew you away on tape. You really didn't know anything about him before that?
UM: That was one of those Christmas presents I unwrapped when they showed me the highlight video. I mean, he's as good as I've seen on a highlight video. Then you meet the kid and he's a beautiful kid, great family. Everett Withers identified him and brought him up. It's almost a shame to say this, but the first time I shook his hand and even talked to him was when he got on campus. And he blew us away.
He's been listed some places as a linebacker, others as a defensive end ...
UM: Oh, he's a linebacker. Linebacker all the way.
What are the priorities now for you over the next month or so before spring practice begins?
UM: We have a bunch of new coaches, a completely new offensive scheme. So the next month, the priority is to get around our players, get to know them with the new coaches. And No. 2 is to install an offense and defense, and make sure everybody is on the same page, so when we hit March we're up and running.
I talked with offensive coordinator Tom Herman recently, and he said he'd be blending the offense with your philosophies. How is that going on right now?
UM: That's all we're doing. I've hired some very good coaches, very successful coaches. We have a system I have great belief in, but I use the term enhance. If we can enhance our system, we will. And so far we have. It's going very well.
What kind of reports have you gotten from strength coach Mickey Marotti on how offseason workouts are going?
UM: Good. But we haven't really hit it hard yet. We've been kind of introduced to our offseason program. I meet with Mickey nonstop. Constant evaluation. But so far, it's mostly just been indoctrination. On Monday, it starts for real.
How much help has Luke Fickell been in this entire transition process?
UM: Well, there's no agenda with him. He has a true passion and love for Ohio State, and he's a very quality football coach and family man. It's a perfect fit, and his stability and relationships really helped us.
How much are you working on the 2013 class right now?
UM: Oh, we're killing it. We're all over it.
Brady Hoke on Wednesday technically signed his second recruiting class as Michigan's coach, but unlike the first, this crop had his fingerprints all over it. Hoke and his staff had a full year to put the class together and rode some early momentum last spring and summer to a class rated in the top 10 nationally by the recruiting services. Michigan re-established itself on the home front with nine in-state players and nine more from neighboring Ohio. The Wolverines loaded up on both lines and added some decorated skill players as well.
ESPN.com caught up with Hoke on Wednesday. Here are his thoughts:
What were your main objectives with this recruiting class?
Brady Hoke: Number one, we had some holes that we needed to fill. We had eight guys on scholarship on the offensive line a year ago, and we needed to get some guys who will be great fits within the offense, and secondly, we need to get numbers and quality numbers. Same thing defensively. Coming out of a 3-3-5 scheme to a four-man scheme, you obviously have got to do a good job of changing and getting the bodies you need.
What stands out to you about the linemen you were able to sign on both sides?
Hoke: They're all quality kids and character kids. I think there's a toughness to them when you watch them play. There's great size potential and genetically, you've got some bigger guys.
A couple of those bigger guys are [offensive lineman] Kyle Kalis and [defensive lineman] Ondre Pipkins. What stood out to you about them?
Hoke: The movement a guy like 'Pee-Wee' [Pipkins] has. When you look at the size that he is and what the potential down the road is and how he plays the game. And with Kalis, he's a road grader. He's physical at the point of attack and finishes blocks.
How important was it to do well within the state? How big an emphasis did you put on Michigan and northern Ohio?
Hoke: Both states have outstanding high school football programs, and there's an emphasis and it's coached very, very well. Recruiting the state of Michigan is always going to be an important part of what we do, the heart and soul and core of your team, nucleus-wise. And Ohio is the same way. That is always a state because of population and the love they have for the game of football, it's always going to be a place we're going to recruit hard.
How important was it to get off to the start that you did last spring?
Hoke: That's always important, if you can get that done. Some years may be different than others, but you grab some momentum, and then kids start recruiting kids. They find guys they want to play with and be around for four or five years.
You played quite a few younger players, especially on defense, last year. Do you see that same potential with this class, guys able to contribute early in their careers?
Hoke: We're going to see. That's why it's an inexact science, but there's always opportunities out there for guys.
Was the competition recruiting this area any different this past year than when you were an assistant at Michigan?
Hoke: I don't think so. I didn't feel any different, let's put it that way.
How important was your vision for Michigan during this recruiting cycle?
Hoke: The more you know about the guys that you want to recruit, the more they know you, the relationships you build, all those things are important. Having 12 months to recruit a class is always beneficial.
How much were you able to recruit to where Michigan is going on the offensive side?
Hoke: We signed a fullback (Sione Houma), and that's an important position when you want to get in the two-back, I-back, and run the power play and the lead play and the play-action schemes off of it. A big back like Drake [Johnson] is an important piece to it. Tight end is an important piece, and signing the two tight ends [Devin Funchess and A.J. Williams] are going to help us down the road.
What's your take on the four-year scholarships that you and many other Big Ten schools began offering this year?
Hoke: I've got a feeling they'll revisit those things. There may have been a rush to judgment about how some of those things are pushed through six or seven months ago. I never saw a problem with the one-year, renewables. Maybe [the solution] is somewhere in the middle and they become two-year deals.
ESPN.com caught up with Hoke on Wednesday. Here are his thoughts:
What were your main objectives with this recruiting class?
[+] Enlarge
Chuck Cook/US PresswireBrady Hoke signed a class of 25 on national signing day, including 18 players from the states of Ohio and Michigan.
Chuck Cook/US PresswireBrady Hoke signed a class of 25 on national signing day, including 18 players from the states of Ohio and Michigan.What stands out to you about the linemen you were able to sign on both sides?
Hoke: They're all quality kids and character kids. I think there's a toughness to them when you watch them play. There's great size potential and genetically, you've got some bigger guys.
A couple of those bigger guys are [offensive lineman] Kyle Kalis and [defensive lineman] Ondre Pipkins. What stood out to you about them?
Hoke: The movement a guy like 'Pee-Wee' [Pipkins] has. When you look at the size that he is and what the potential down the road is and how he plays the game. And with Kalis, he's a road grader. He's physical at the point of attack and finishes blocks.
How important was it to do well within the state? How big an emphasis did you put on Michigan and northern Ohio?
Hoke: Both states have outstanding high school football programs, and there's an emphasis and it's coached very, very well. Recruiting the state of Michigan is always going to be an important part of what we do, the heart and soul and core of your team, nucleus-wise. And Ohio is the same way. That is always a state because of population and the love they have for the game of football, it's always going to be a place we're going to recruit hard.
How important was it to get off to the start that you did last spring?
Hoke: That's always important, if you can get that done. Some years may be different than others, but you grab some momentum, and then kids start recruiting kids. They find guys they want to play with and be around for four or five years.
You played quite a few younger players, especially on defense, last year. Do you see that same potential with this class, guys able to contribute early in their careers?
Hoke: We're going to see. That's why it's an inexact science, but there's always opportunities out there for guys.
Was the competition recruiting this area any different this past year than when you were an assistant at Michigan?
Hoke: I don't think so. I didn't feel any different, let's put it that way.
How important was your vision for Michigan during this recruiting cycle?
Hoke: The more you know about the guys that you want to recruit, the more they know you, the relationships you build, all those things are important. Having 12 months to recruit a class is always beneficial.
How much were you able to recruit to where Michigan is going on the offensive side?
Hoke: We signed a fullback (Sione Houma), and that's an important position when you want to get in the two-back, I-back, and run the power play and the lead play and the play-action schemes off of it. A big back like Drake [Johnson] is an important piece to it. Tight end is an important piece, and signing the two tight ends [Devin Funchess and A.J. Williams] are going to help us down the road.
What's your take on the four-year scholarships that you and many other Big Ten schools began offering this year?
Hoke: I've got a feeling they'll revisit those things. There may have been a rush to judgment about how some of those things are pushed through six or seven months ago. I never saw a problem with the one-year, renewables. Maybe [the solution] is somewhere in the middle and they become two-year deals.
Earlier today, we took a look at the recruiting needs of every team in the Big Ten Leaders Division. Now it's time to turn our attention to the Legends Division and see what positions each team needs to restock before next week's signing day:
Iowa
Running backs: Iowa's problems with keeping running backs in school has been well documented, and the Hawkeyes lost leading rusher Marcus Coker and backup Mika'il McCall after off-the-field problems last season. The team really needs some more depth in the backfield, and don't be surprised if incoming freshman Greg Garmon pushes for playing time immediately.
Defensive linemen: Iowa had three defensive linemen drafted off the 2010 team and now loses its top two guys up front in departing seniors Broderick Binns and Mike Daniels. That's an awful lot of talent to replace in a couple of years, and the Hawkeyes can't expect to improve their defense without doing so. Finding some more pass rushers off the edge will be key.
Wide receivers: Marvin McNutt had a wonderful senior season, but the passing game often stalled whenever he couldn't wiggle free. Now he's gone, leaving a void at the position. Kevonte Martin-Manley and Keenan Davis have shown promise, but James Vandenberg could use some more weapons. Iowa has secured commitments from three receivers in this class.
Michigan
Wide receiver: The loss of Darryl Stonum, who was dismissed following another run in with the law, created a void at receiver, especially with top pass-catcher Junior Hemingway out of eligibility. The Wolverines will have to hope Roy Roundtree can bounce back with a big season, because all other wideout options are unproven at this point. Three receivers are committed to Brady Hoke in this class.
Defensive line: Mike Martin and Ryan Van Bergen were key cogs in Michigan's run to the Sugar Bowl title in 2011, and they have both moved on, along with starter Will Heininger. Hoke and defensive coordinator Greg Mattison are defensive line coaches at heart and will want to grab as many difference makers as they can at that key position. Ondre Pipkins, a 325-pound tackle, is the highest rated defensive lineman in the Wolverines' class right now.
Offensive line: While the Wolverines should be fine on the O-line in 2012, even without Rimington Trophy winner David Molk and starting right tackle Mark Huyge, they signed only four offensive linemen total in the past two classes. Since linemen are often slow to develop, they need to refill the cupboard now. Michigan has four offensive linemen committed in this class, including standout Kyle Kalis.
Michigan State
Offensive tackles: Thanks in large part to injuries, Michigan State had to move a defensive lineman (Dan France) to tackle last summer and plug in a junior-college transfer (Fou Fonoti) into the other tackle spot. That the Spartans won the Legends Division title despite that is kind of amazing in retrospect. France will be a junior in 2012 and Fonoti will be in his final year of eligibility. They need more depth at the position, and they've got commitments from two offensive tackles so far in this class.
Wide receivers: Two of the most successful receivers in school history are gone as Keshawn Martin and B.J. Cunningham finished off wildly productive careers. Tennessee transfer DeAnthony Arnett is seeking a waiver to play immediately and will help the future even if he has to sit out a year. Michigan State is looking to sign three other receivers in this class to fill out the future two-deep.
Running back: Edwin Baker's early entry to the NFL draft came as a surprise. Michigan State is still in good shape at tailback for 2012 with Le'Veon Bell and Larry Caper. But after not signing a running back in last year's class, Mark Dantonio could use at least one more option in the backfield.
Minnesota
Defensive backs: It was no secret that Minnesota's pass defense was brutal at times in 2011, and top tackler Kim Royston leaves a hole at safety with his graduation. Getting Troy Stoudermire back for an extra year helps, but Jerry Kill needs to upgrade the talent in the secondary. That's why he has signed three junior-college defensive backs and secured commitments from four high school safeties so far.
Defensive tackle: One of the reasons the pass defense was so bad was a lack of pass rush applied by the front four. The Gophers had only 19 sacks this season, a year after registering just nine. Making matters worse, both starting tackles were seniors this season. Kill signed a junior-college defensive tackle and has two prep tackles committed. He needs to find guys who can find their way to the quarterback.
Overall talent and depth: Kill has said there are gaps in the Gophers' classes, and depth issues could plague the team during his rebuilding efforts. Including six junior-college players signed to help right away, Minnesota has a class of 28 right now. Minnesota simply needs more bodies everywhere.
Nebraska
Linebacker: Lavonte David leaves some rather large cleats to fill. Not only was he Nebraska's leading tackler the past two seasons, he was the only linebacker who played at a consistently high level. The Huskers' starters at the other two linebacker spots will be seniors this year, and depth is thin behind them. So it's little wonder why Bo Pelini has used four spots so far in what is expected to be a small class to fill that position, led by four-star prospect Michael Rose.
Tight end: Three of the top four options at tight ends will be seniors in 2012, leaving very little behind them. Sam Cotton, son of offensive line coach Barney Cotton and younger brother of current Huskers tight end Ben, is on his way to help.
Quarterback: Taylor Martinez is entrenched as the starter going into his junior year, and Nebraska never had to worry about playing Brion Carnes in a big spot this year after Bubba Starling opted for baseball. Still, it's dangerous to not have depth at quarterback, and so the Huskers need to add at least one signal caller in this class.
Northwestern
Defensive backs: The Wildcats were burned repeatedly in the passing game in 2011, and their best defensive back (safety Brian Peters) won't be around next season. Head coach Pat Fitzgerald has commitments from three safeties in this class already.
Defensive playmakers: Northwestern was shockingly short on guys who could blow up another team's offensive play in 2011, so Fitzgerald's main mission had to be finding more guys who played like he did in college. That aim got a big boost when stud defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo committed to play in Evanston. That's a good start.
Wide receivers: Highly productive star receiver Jeremy Ebert is gone, along with starter Charles Brown. Venric Mark and Christian Jones have a lot of potential as the next big passing targets, but Northwestern's spread offense feeds off of speed and depth at the receiver position. Four receivers have given the Wildcats their pledge in this class.
Iowa
Running backs: Iowa's problems with keeping running backs in school has been well documented, and the Hawkeyes lost leading rusher Marcus Coker and backup Mika'il McCall after off-the-field problems last season. The team really needs some more depth in the backfield, and don't be surprised if incoming freshman Greg Garmon pushes for playing time immediately.
Defensive linemen: Iowa had three defensive linemen drafted off the 2010 team and now loses its top two guys up front in departing seniors Broderick Binns and Mike Daniels. That's an awful lot of talent to replace in a couple of years, and the Hawkeyes can't expect to improve their defense without doing so. Finding some more pass rushers off the edge will be key.
Wide receivers: Marvin McNutt had a wonderful senior season, but the passing game often stalled whenever he couldn't wiggle free. Now he's gone, leaving a void at the position. Kevonte Martin-Manley and Keenan Davis have shown promise, but James Vandenberg could use some more weapons. Iowa has secured commitments from three receivers in this class.
Michigan
Wide receiver: The loss of Darryl Stonum, who was dismissed following another run in with the law, created a void at receiver, especially with top pass-catcher Junior Hemingway out of eligibility. The Wolverines will have to hope Roy Roundtree can bounce back with a big season, because all other wideout options are unproven at this point. Three receivers are committed to Brady Hoke in this class.
Defensive line: Mike Martin and Ryan Van Bergen were key cogs in Michigan's run to the Sugar Bowl title in 2011, and they have both moved on, along with starter Will Heininger. Hoke and defensive coordinator Greg Mattison are defensive line coaches at heart and will want to grab as many difference makers as they can at that key position. Ondre Pipkins, a 325-pound tackle, is the highest rated defensive lineman in the Wolverines' class right now.
Offensive line: While the Wolverines should be fine on the O-line in 2012, even without Rimington Trophy winner David Molk and starting right tackle Mark Huyge, they signed only four offensive linemen total in the past two classes. Since linemen are often slow to develop, they need to refill the cupboard now. Michigan has four offensive linemen committed in this class, including standout Kyle Kalis.
Michigan State
Offensive tackles: Thanks in large part to injuries, Michigan State had to move a defensive lineman (Dan France) to tackle last summer and plug in a junior-college transfer (Fou Fonoti) into the other tackle spot. That the Spartans won the Legends Division title despite that is kind of amazing in retrospect. France will be a junior in 2012 and Fonoti will be in his final year of eligibility. They need more depth at the position, and they've got commitments from two offensive tackles so far in this class.
Wide receivers: Two of the most successful receivers in school history are gone as Keshawn Martin and B.J. Cunningham finished off wildly productive careers. Tennessee transfer DeAnthony Arnett is seeking a waiver to play immediately and will help the future even if he has to sit out a year. Michigan State is looking to sign three other receivers in this class to fill out the future two-deep.
Running back: Edwin Baker's early entry to the NFL draft came as a surprise. Michigan State is still in good shape at tailback for 2012 with Le'Veon Bell and Larry Caper. But after not signing a running back in last year's class, Mark Dantonio could use at least one more option in the backfield.
Minnesota
Defensive backs: It was no secret that Minnesota's pass defense was brutal at times in 2011, and top tackler Kim Royston leaves a hole at safety with his graduation. Getting Troy Stoudermire back for an extra year helps, but Jerry Kill needs to upgrade the talent in the secondary. That's why he has signed three junior-college defensive backs and secured commitments from four high school safeties so far.
Defensive tackle: One of the reasons the pass defense was so bad was a lack of pass rush applied by the front four. The Gophers had only 19 sacks this season, a year after registering just nine. Making matters worse, both starting tackles were seniors this season. Kill signed a junior-college defensive tackle and has two prep tackles committed. He needs to find guys who can find their way to the quarterback.
Overall talent and depth: Kill has said there are gaps in the Gophers' classes, and depth issues could plague the team during his rebuilding efforts. Including six junior-college players signed to help right away, Minnesota has a class of 28 right now. Minnesota simply needs more bodies everywhere.
Nebraska
Linebacker: Lavonte David leaves some rather large cleats to fill. Not only was he Nebraska's leading tackler the past two seasons, he was the only linebacker who played at a consistently high level. The Huskers' starters at the other two linebacker spots will be seniors this year, and depth is thin behind them. So it's little wonder why Bo Pelini has used four spots so far in what is expected to be a small class to fill that position, led by four-star prospect Michael Rose.
Tight end: Three of the top four options at tight ends will be seniors in 2012, leaving very little behind them. Sam Cotton, son of offensive line coach Barney Cotton and younger brother of current Huskers tight end Ben, is on his way to help.
Quarterback: Taylor Martinez is entrenched as the starter going into his junior year, and Nebraska never had to worry about playing Brion Carnes in a big spot this year after Bubba Starling opted for baseball. Still, it's dangerous to not have depth at quarterback, and so the Huskers need to add at least one signal caller in this class.
Northwestern
Defensive backs: The Wildcats were burned repeatedly in the passing game in 2011, and their best defensive back (safety Brian Peters) won't be around next season. Head coach Pat Fitzgerald has commitments from three safeties in this class already.
Defensive playmakers: Northwestern was shockingly short on guys who could blow up another team's offensive play in 2011, so Fitzgerald's main mission had to be finding more guys who played like he did in college. That aim got a big boost when stud defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo committed to play in Evanston. That's a good start.
Wide receivers: Highly productive star receiver Jeremy Ebert is gone, along with starter Charles Brown. Venric Mark and Christian Jones have a lot of potential as the next big passing targets, but Northwestern's spread offense feeds off of speed and depth at the receiver position. Four receivers have given the Wildcats their pledge in this class.
Big Buckeye flavor in final ESPNU 150 list
January, 19, 2012
Jan 19
2:00
PM ET
By
Brian Bennett | ESPN.com
With national signing day just two weeks away, ESPN.com has revealed its final rankings for the class of 2012. And the big winners in the Big Ten appear to be Ohio State and Michigan.
The Buckeyes, helped by the arrival of Urban Meyer, have secured commitments so far from five players in the final 2012 ESPNU 150, including three in the top 100. They are:
No. 4: DE Noah Spence
No. 65: DE Adolphus Washington
No. 98: DE Se'Von Pittman
No. 104: OG Joey O'Connor
No 108: DT Tommy Schutt
If these players pan out, Meyer could be building an intimidating defensive line in Columbus, and we all know that winning starts in the trenches.
Michigan is second in the league with four ESPNU commitments, and like Ohio State the Wolverines are loading up on defense with this class. Their top prospects are:
No. 68: CB Terry Richardson
No. 113: OLB Royce Jenkins-Stone
No. 132: OG Kyle Kalis
No. 142: OLB Joe Bolden
Only three other members of the ESPNU 150 are committed to Big Ten schools, and somewhat surprisingly, Minnesota and Northwestern account for two of them. They are:
No. 51: DE Ifeadi Odenigbo, Northwestern
No. 112: OG Isaac Hayes, Minnesota
No. 131: ILB Michael Rose, Nebraska
ESPN has also updated its class rankings for 2012, and Michigan leads the Big Ten pack at No. 7 nationally. Ohio State is the only other league school ranked, sitting right behind the Wolverines at No. 8. The Buckeyes could overtake Michigan if Meyer is able to reel in some more top prospects late.
Speaking of which, our recruiting folks also take a look today at where some of the top uncommitted prospects stand, including blue-chippers who are looking at Big Ten schools. The No. 8 overall prospect, athlete Davonte Neal, has Ohio State on his list. Offensive tackle Andrus Peat, the No. 9 prospect whose older brother plays for Nebraska, is strongly considering the Huskers, as is athlete Devin Fuller (No. 39). Michigan is in play for offensive guard Josh Garnett (No. 44), while Ohio State is battling for tailback Joel Caleb (No. 83). The Buckeyes, Wolverines and Wisconsin are all hoping to hear good news from offensive tackle Jordan Diamond (No. 94), who isn't expected to announce his decision until after signing day.
The Buckeyes, helped by the arrival of Urban Meyer, have secured commitments so far from five players in the final 2012 ESPNU 150, including three in the top 100. They are:
No. 4: DE Noah Spence
No. 65: DE Adolphus Washington
No. 98: DE Se'Von Pittman
No. 104: OG Joey O'Connor
No 108: DT Tommy Schutt
If these players pan out, Meyer could be building an intimidating defensive line in Columbus, and we all know that winning starts in the trenches.
Michigan is second in the league with four ESPNU commitments, and like Ohio State the Wolverines are loading up on defense with this class. Their top prospects are:
No. 68: CB Terry Richardson
No. 113: OLB Royce Jenkins-Stone
No. 132: OG Kyle Kalis
No. 142: OLB Joe Bolden
Only three other members of the ESPNU 150 are committed to Big Ten schools, and somewhat surprisingly, Minnesota and Northwestern account for two of them. They are:
No. 51: DE Ifeadi Odenigbo, Northwestern
No. 112: OG Isaac Hayes, Minnesota
No. 131: ILB Michael Rose, Nebraska
ESPN has also updated its class rankings for 2012, and Michigan leads the Big Ten pack at No. 7 nationally. Ohio State is the only other league school ranked, sitting right behind the Wolverines at No. 8. The Buckeyes could overtake Michigan if Meyer is able to reel in some more top prospects late.
Speaking of which, our recruiting folks also take a look today at where some of the top uncommitted prospects stand, including blue-chippers who are looking at Big Ten schools. The No. 8 overall prospect, athlete Davonte Neal, has Ohio State on his list. Offensive tackle Andrus Peat, the No. 9 prospect whose older brother plays for Nebraska, is strongly considering the Huskers, as is athlete Devin Fuller (No. 39). Michigan is in play for offensive guard Josh Garnett (No. 44), while Ohio State is battling for tailback Joel Caleb (No. 83). The Buckeyes, Wolverines and Wisconsin are all hoping to hear good news from offensive tackle Jordan Diamond (No. 94), who isn't expected to announce his decision until after signing day.
Big Ten in the latest ESPNU 150 rankings
October, 20, 2011
10/20/11
3:30
PM ET
By
Brian Bennett | ESPN.com
The latest ESPNU 150 -- ESPN.com's ranking of the top high school football players in the Class of 2012 -- is now out. And the Big Ten school with a the highest-rated recruit committed is ... Indiana?
Yep, quarterback Gunner Kiel, who pledged his services to Kevin Wilson and the Hoosiers, checks in at No. 20, highest among current Big Ten recruits. Here's a look at where the other ESPNU 150 players planning to enter league the next year are ranked:
No. 67: Cornerback Terry Richardson, Michigan
No. 100: Defensive end Se'Von Pittman, Michigan State
No. 105: Offensive tackle Joey O'Connor, Penn State
No. 114: Offensive guard Isaac Hayes, Minnesota
No. 115: Linebacker Royce Jenkins-Stone, Michigan
No. 130: Defensive tackle Tommy Schutt, Penn State
No. 134: Linebacker Tommy Rose, Nebraska
No. 135: Offensive tackle Kyle Kalis, Michigan
Only having nine players in the ESPNU 150 is not a heavy presence for the Big Ten, but many of the top prospects have yet to announce where they're going to school. Here's a look at who the top prospects are considering, including many Big Ten targets.
The ESPN recruiting folks have also updated their class rankings by school. Michigan's class is ranked No. 6 nationally, one spot lower than last month. Penn State is No. 18, the same spot it held in the previous rankings. No other Big Ten school cracked ESPN.com's Top 25 class rankings.
Yep, quarterback Gunner Kiel, who pledged his services to Kevin Wilson and the Hoosiers, checks in at No. 20, highest among current Big Ten recruits. Here's a look at where the other ESPNU 150 players planning to enter league the next year are ranked:
No. 67: Cornerback Terry Richardson, Michigan
No. 100: Defensive end Se'Von Pittman, Michigan State
No. 105: Offensive tackle Joey O'Connor, Penn State
No. 114: Offensive guard Isaac Hayes, Minnesota
No. 115: Linebacker Royce Jenkins-Stone, Michigan
No. 130: Defensive tackle Tommy Schutt, Penn State
No. 134: Linebacker Tommy Rose, Nebraska
No. 135: Offensive tackle Kyle Kalis, Michigan
Only having nine players in the ESPNU 150 is not a heavy presence for the Big Ten, but many of the top prospects have yet to announce where they're going to school. Here's a look at who the top prospects are considering, including many Big Ten targets.
The ESPN recruiting folks have also updated their class rankings by school. Michigan's class is ranked No. 6 nationally, one spot lower than last month. Penn State is No. 18, the same spot it held in the previous rankings. No other Big Ten school cracked ESPN.com's Top 25 class rankings.
Mail time. Send your questions here.
Chris from State College, Pa., writes: Adam, we saw Ohio State's success this past weekend running the ball vs. Illinois and completing 1/4 passes. Should Penn State adopt this strategy in two weeks when the Illini come to town?
Adam Rittenberg: Chris, I think Penn State has to be a bit more balanced. Ohio State's offensive line is pretty darn good with Mike Adams back at left tackle, so the Buckeyes can control the line of scrimmage a bit better than the Nittany Lions can. The Buckeyes also have a more mobile quarterback in Braxton Miller. Both teams have multiple options at running back, although Ohio State has a bit more depth. Penn State, meanwhile, has by far the best receiver between the two teams in Derek Moye, who should be back for the Illinois game, although he might be limited. The Lions shouldn't let Moye go to waste. Bottom line: I don't think a game plan that includes only four passes will work for Penn State, as Illinois has some playmakers on defense and should perform better on offense than it did against Ohio State.
Brendan from Berkeley, Calif., writes: Adam:Parity exists across the college football landscape. The Big 10's biggest issue is marketing. Just 2 bowl seasaons ago the Big 10 went 4-3 beating Oregon in Rose Bowl, Ga Tech in the Orange Bowl, LSU in the Capitol One, and Miami in the Champs Sports. The Big 10 team was the underdog in each game. Yet the media focused on the field conditions between Penn State and LSU, the return of LaGarrette Blount as a distraction for Oregon, etc.Yet when they peform poorly, as they did last year, it's only due to one reason according to the media - a weak conference. The Big 10 needs to get out in front of this and proactively schedule SEC teams. Good luck in getting them to come north though. (see Florida) Beating SEC teams in non-conference games will be the quickest way to turn around broad perception about the conference
Adam Rittenberg: Brendan, always good to hear from my hometown, and you make some very interesting points. There did seem to be a reluctance to credit the Big Ten after the 2009 season when it had a very successful bowl performance. A 4-3 mark with the Big Ten's bowl lineup -- with two wins in BCS games -- is like the SEC, ACC or Big 12 going 7-1 in the bowls. Although the league got credit on the blog and in other places, the national bump didn't seem to be there. I agree that scheduling more non-league games against SEC teams will help the Big Ten, but there's a reluctance on both sides and few SEC teams seem willing to travel up north. The Penn State-Alabama series was a lot of fun, despite two fairly lopsided games. I'd love to see more of these matchups. We should get a few more in the coming years, beginning with Michigan-Alabama next year.
HuskerFan6 from Omaha, Neb., writes: Looking towards the end of Nebraska's schedule, what do you predict the out come of both road games the Huskers have at the Big House and at Penn State?
Adam Rittenberg: Both games will be tough, Husker, and for different reasons. Michigan has a dynamic offense, and Denard Robinson will test a Nebraska defense that has struggled a bit in the first half of the season. Penn State, meanwhile, boasts an excellent defense, and the game could mark Joe Paterno's last at Beaver Stadium, so there will be a lot of excitement. I don't see Nebraska losing both of these games. A 1-1 split seems likely, and if Nebraska can get its defense on track, it could win both. If the Huskers do, they'll have an excellent chance to end up in Indianapolis.
Bret from Las Vegas writes: Adam, I have read elsewhere that there is a gentleman's agreement among B1G coaches that once a player commits to a school, no other B1G coaches will continue to recruit him. For example, I recall RichRod getting into a dust-up at the beginning of his tenure with Purdue over such an "infraction". What exactly is this so-called agreement? How strict is it applied? And finally, are there truths to what's flying about the internet that Michigan is violating this agreement with OSU players?
Adam Rittenberg: Bret, there's no gentleman's agreement. Joe Tiller was upset after Michigan swiped Roy Roundtree away from Purdue, but this happens all the time in just about every league. There's no hard-and-fast rule. Heralded offensive tackle prospect J.J. Denman recently switched his verbal commitment from Penn State to Wisconsin. While Michigan has added some former Ohio State commits -- Kyle Kalis the most notable -- I've seen this happen with a lot of schools in a lot of leagues.
Dave from D-town writes: Adam,You're a blue wall hack. Why don't you mention lewan throwing gholston to the dirt by his face mask before condeming "his conduct in both cases" Twisting d-robs face mask was really dumb on multiple levels, but if gholston deserves a suspension, so does lewan, so do the officials who made so many questionable calls against the spartans. so do you for being such a blue wall hack. This is coming from the same clown that says "the michigan schools can play a little D" as a means of downplaying MSU's domination of the super talented buckeyes. This is coming from the dude that calls our ref induced loss to ND a blow out, while never calling nebraska's emberassment against the badgers a blowout.You're a hack and a clown. You don't know crap about football. You're just a stat studying nerd who has probably never been able to throw a spiral. You're biased and half witted. You represent everything wrong with the American media.Go crawl under a rock and let a real reporter (brian) cover this conference. You belong in the SEC with the rest of the scum.You're why no one trust's ESECPN
Adam Rittenberg: Thanks for reading, Dave! Oh, wait, I doubt you actually read entire posts (probably too much work). Otherwise, you would have seen that I repeatedly pointed out the Michigan State-Notre Dame score was misleading and that the Spartans only allowed 275 yards in that game. And the "Michigan schools can play a little D" item was meant to credit Michigan State's defense, nothing more. And I repeatedly called Nebraska's loss embarrassing (as did Huskers coach Bo Pelini, who apologized to the entire state). But it's a lot easier to jump to conclusions, isn't it? Inferiority complex? Check. I'll go serve my suspension now.
TJ from Lake Geneva, Wis., writes: Adam, isn't the 2011 Northwestern team identical to the 2001 Northwestern team? Both had Heisman darkhorses (Persa and Damien Anderson) return after great seasons. Both saw the return of a large number of starters. Both were coming off of a bowl loss. And both took the big expectations placed on them, and stumbled. I know we have a different coach now (and doubt that we will do better than Fitzgerald any time in the next 100 or so years), but is there a mindset that prevents them from performing as a favorite?
Adam Rittenberg: TJ, this is a interesting comparison, and one that other Wildcats fans have pointed out. It was a bit different in 2001, as Northwestern was the Big Ten preseason favorite and endured a preseason tragedy (Rashidi Wheeler's death). But both teams had dynamic offensive players and bad defenses, and both have/are falling well short of expectations. Northwestern has built some consistency, but it remains a program that struggles in the spotlight. The Wildcats typically don't perform well when ranked or favored. They perform better in the 11 a.m./noon games than they do under the lights. Like other programs, they seem more comfortable outside the spotlight. It's hard to pinpoint why, but this season has shown that Northwestern and Fitzgerald haven't truly arrived.
Nic from East Lansing, Mich., writes: Hey Adam, as a spartan fan, I am becoming really concerned that we could end the season 10-3, losing twice to Wisconsin and be the 4th team picked out of the big ten behind Wisconsin, Penn State/Illinois, and Nebraska/Michigan. What are the chances of this happening?
Adam Rittenberg: Nic, it's hard to predict what the bowl committees will do. Michigan State travels extremely well, but there would be some tough competition if Nebraska and Michigan are also in that Capital One/Outback/Insight/Gator mix. I definitely can see Michigan State picked ahead of Illinois and possibly ahead of Nebraska and Michigan, depending on the bowl. But it could go the other way, too. The bigger objective for Michigan State is winning a bowl game for the first time under Mark Dantonio.
Brent from Columbus, Ohio, writes: Can you tell me how the teams that will represent each of the divisions of the BIG TEN will be chosen?By Division Record or by Conference Record?Thanks for any info.
Adam Rittenberg: No problem, Brent. The teams with the best overall conference record in each division go to the title game. If there's a two-way tie in overall conference record atop a division, the winner of the head-to-head matchup goes to Indy. If there's a three-way tie, the team with the best record within the division will go to Indy. There are more tiebreakers, and you can find the full breakdown here.
Chris from State College, Pa., writes: Adam, we saw Ohio State's success this past weekend running the ball vs. Illinois and completing 1/4 passes. Should Penn State adopt this strategy in two weeks when the Illini come to town?
Adam Rittenberg: Chris, I think Penn State has to be a bit more balanced. Ohio State's offensive line is pretty darn good with Mike Adams back at left tackle, so the Buckeyes can control the line of scrimmage a bit better than the Nittany Lions can. The Buckeyes also have a more mobile quarterback in Braxton Miller. Both teams have multiple options at running back, although Ohio State has a bit more depth. Penn State, meanwhile, has by far the best receiver between the two teams in Derek Moye, who should be back for the Illinois game, although he might be limited. The Lions shouldn't let Moye go to waste. Bottom line: I don't think a game plan that includes only four passes will work for Penn State, as Illinois has some playmakers on defense and should perform better on offense than it did against Ohio State.
Brendan from Berkeley, Calif., writes: Adam:Parity exists across the college football landscape. The Big 10's biggest issue is marketing. Just 2 bowl seasaons ago the Big 10 went 4-3 beating Oregon in Rose Bowl, Ga Tech in the Orange Bowl, LSU in the Capitol One, and Miami in the Champs Sports. The Big 10 team was the underdog in each game. Yet the media focused on the field conditions between Penn State and LSU, the return of LaGarrette Blount as a distraction for Oregon, etc.Yet when they peform poorly, as they did last year, it's only due to one reason according to the media - a weak conference. The Big 10 needs to get out in front of this and proactively schedule SEC teams. Good luck in getting them to come north though. (see Florida) Beating SEC teams in non-conference games will be the quickest way to turn around broad perception about the conference
Adam Rittenberg: Brendan, always good to hear from my hometown, and you make some very interesting points. There did seem to be a reluctance to credit the Big Ten after the 2009 season when it had a very successful bowl performance. A 4-3 mark with the Big Ten's bowl lineup -- with two wins in BCS games -- is like the SEC, ACC or Big 12 going 7-1 in the bowls. Although the league got credit on the blog and in other places, the national bump didn't seem to be there. I agree that scheduling more non-league games against SEC teams will help the Big Ten, but there's a reluctance on both sides and few SEC teams seem willing to travel up north. The Penn State-Alabama series was a lot of fun, despite two fairly lopsided games. I'd love to see more of these matchups. We should get a few more in the coming years, beginning with Michigan-Alabama next year.
HuskerFan6 from Omaha, Neb., writes: Looking towards the end of Nebraska's schedule, what do you predict the out come of both road games the Huskers have at the Big House and at Penn State?
Adam Rittenberg: Both games will be tough, Husker, and for different reasons. Michigan has a dynamic offense, and Denard Robinson will test a Nebraska defense that has struggled a bit in the first half of the season. Penn State, meanwhile, boasts an excellent defense, and the game could mark Joe Paterno's last at Beaver Stadium, so there will be a lot of excitement. I don't see Nebraska losing both of these games. A 1-1 split seems likely, and if Nebraska can get its defense on track, it could win both. If the Huskers do, they'll have an excellent chance to end up in Indianapolis.
Bret from Las Vegas writes: Adam, I have read elsewhere that there is a gentleman's agreement among B1G coaches that once a player commits to a school, no other B1G coaches will continue to recruit him. For example, I recall RichRod getting into a dust-up at the beginning of his tenure with Purdue over such an "infraction". What exactly is this so-called agreement? How strict is it applied? And finally, are there truths to what's flying about the internet that Michigan is violating this agreement with OSU players?
Adam Rittenberg: Bret, there's no gentleman's agreement. Joe Tiller was upset after Michigan swiped Roy Roundtree away from Purdue, but this happens all the time in just about every league. There's no hard-and-fast rule. Heralded offensive tackle prospect J.J. Denman recently switched his verbal commitment from Penn State to Wisconsin. While Michigan has added some former Ohio State commits -- Kyle Kalis the most notable -- I've seen this happen with a lot of schools in a lot of leagues.
Dave from D-town writes: Adam,You're a blue wall hack. Why don't you mention lewan throwing gholston to the dirt by his face mask before condeming "his conduct in both cases" Twisting d-robs face mask was really dumb on multiple levels, but if gholston deserves a suspension, so does lewan, so do the officials who made so many questionable calls against the spartans. so do you for being such a blue wall hack. This is coming from the same clown that says "the michigan schools can play a little D" as a means of downplaying MSU's domination of the super talented buckeyes. This is coming from the dude that calls our ref induced loss to ND a blow out, while never calling nebraska's emberassment against the badgers a blowout.You're a hack and a clown. You don't know crap about football. You're just a stat studying nerd who has probably never been able to throw a spiral. You're biased and half witted. You represent everything wrong with the American media.Go crawl under a rock and let a real reporter (brian) cover this conference. You belong in the SEC with the rest of the scum.You're why no one trust's ESECPN
Adam Rittenberg: Thanks for reading, Dave! Oh, wait, I doubt you actually read entire posts (probably too much work). Otherwise, you would have seen that I repeatedly pointed out the Michigan State-Notre Dame score was misleading and that the Spartans only allowed 275 yards in that game. And the "Michigan schools can play a little D" item was meant to credit Michigan State's defense, nothing more. And I repeatedly called Nebraska's loss embarrassing (as did Huskers coach Bo Pelini, who apologized to the entire state). But it's a lot easier to jump to conclusions, isn't it? Inferiority complex? Check. I'll go serve my suspension now.
TJ from Lake Geneva, Wis., writes: Adam, isn't the 2011 Northwestern team identical to the 2001 Northwestern team? Both had Heisman darkhorses (Persa and Damien Anderson) return after great seasons. Both saw the return of a large number of starters. Both were coming off of a bowl loss. And both took the big expectations placed on them, and stumbled. I know we have a different coach now (and doubt that we will do better than Fitzgerald any time in the next 100 or so years), but is there a mindset that prevents them from performing as a favorite?
Adam Rittenberg: TJ, this is a interesting comparison, and one that other Wildcats fans have pointed out. It was a bit different in 2001, as Northwestern was the Big Ten preseason favorite and endured a preseason tragedy (Rashidi Wheeler's death). But both teams had dynamic offensive players and bad defenses, and both have/are falling well short of expectations. Northwestern has built some consistency, but it remains a program that struggles in the spotlight. The Wildcats typically don't perform well when ranked or favored. They perform better in the 11 a.m./noon games than they do under the lights. Like other programs, they seem more comfortable outside the spotlight. It's hard to pinpoint why, but this season has shown that Northwestern and Fitzgerald haven't truly arrived.
Nic from East Lansing, Mich., writes: Hey Adam, as a spartan fan, I am becoming really concerned that we could end the season 10-3, losing twice to Wisconsin and be the 4th team picked out of the big ten behind Wisconsin, Penn State/Illinois, and Nebraska/Michigan. What are the chances of this happening?
Adam Rittenberg: Nic, it's hard to predict what the bowl committees will do. Michigan State travels extremely well, but there would be some tough competition if Nebraska and Michigan are also in that Capital One/Outback/Insight/Gator mix. I definitely can see Michigan State picked ahead of Illinois and possibly ahead of Nebraska and Michigan, depending on the bowl. But it could go the other way, too. The bigger objective for Michigan State is winning a bowl game for the first time under Mark Dantonio.
Brent from Columbus, Ohio, writes: Can you tell me how the teams that will represent each of the divisions of the BIG TEN will be chosen?By Division Record or by Conference Record?Thanks for any info.
Adam Rittenberg: No problem, Brent. The teams with the best overall conference record in each division go to the title game. If there's a two-way tie in overall conference record atop a division, the winner of the head-to-head matchup goes to Indy. If there's a three-way tie, the team with the best record within the division will go to Indy. There are more tiebreakers, and you can find the full breakdown here.
Tom Luginbill talks about Kyle Kalis switching his commitment from Ohio State to Michigan and the impact it will have on Ohio State's ability to recruit.
Links, oh how I missed thee.
- As expected, Nebraska recruit Bubba Starling reports to Lincoln, while the Kansas City Royals have until Aug. 15 to sign him.
- Ohio State AD Gene Smith likes what he sees from Luke Fickell so far, Tim May writes in The Columbus Dispatch. Expect the NCAA to hit Ohio State with more sanctions, Doug Lesmerises writes in The Cleveland Plain Dealer. It's official: Mike Vrabel has joined Fickell's staff in Columbus.
- Michigan players want to end their slide against Ohio State on the field, not because of penalties, Jon Spencer writes in the Lancaster Eagle Gazette. More on recruit Kyle Kalis' decision to commit to Michigan.
- Penn State also adds a big recruit to its 2012 class. Both Rob Bolden and Matt McGloin consider themselves Penn State's starting quarterback, Mark Wogenrich writes in The (Allentown) Morning Call.
- Kirk Ferentz has proved he shouldn't be underestimated at Iowa, Pat Harty writes in the Iowa City Press-Citizen.
- An interesting look at recruiting rankings and on-field success in the past decade from Rivals.com.
- Sam McKewon recaps the first five stops on his Big Ten tour.
- Indiana assistant Mike Ekeler believes a turnaround is coming in Bloomington, Steven Sipple writes in the Lincoln Journal Star.
- Former Purdue quarterback Mark Herrmann pioneered the modern passing game, Al Lesar writes.
- A snapshot of Minnesota's football program entering 2011.
- The buzz is already building for Wisconsin-Nebraska.
Michigan lands former Ohio State commit
July, 11, 2011
7/11/11
9:30
AM ET
By
Adam Rittenberg | ESPN.com
Michigan added another big name to its 2012 recruiting class and tweaked its archrival in the process.
While it hardly comes as a surprise, ESPNU 150 offensive lineman Kyle Kalis committed to the Wolverines during the weekend. Michigan now has 20 commits, including three ESPNU 150 prospects, in the Big Ten's top-rated class for 2012.
Kalis, if you recall, originally committed to Ohio State but wavered after coach Jim Tressel's resignation on Memorial Day. New Buckeyes coach Luke Fickell was able to keep the Lakewood, Ohio, prospect on board for several weeks, but Kalis eventually backed out of his pledge and immediately began looking north to Ann Arbor.
He bolsters a Michigan class already featuring several heralded line recruits on both sides of the ball.
Should Ohio State be concerned? While Kalis' switch isn't a shock, the Buckeyes have lost several top in-state players -- Kyle Dodson, Greg McMullen -- to other Big Ten programs. The uncertainty surrounding Ohio State seemed more likely to impact the team's national recruiting, but it's important for Fickell and his staff to re-establish themselves a bit on the homefront.
While Ohio produces a ton of FBS talent and the Buckeyes can't land all the top prospects, this would be a good time for a nice in-state surge.
While it hardly comes as a surprise, ESPNU 150 offensive lineman Kyle Kalis committed to the Wolverines during the weekend. Michigan now has 20 commits, including three ESPNU 150 prospects, in the Big Ten's top-rated class for 2012.
Kalis, if you recall, originally committed to Ohio State but wavered after coach Jim Tressel's resignation on Memorial Day. New Buckeyes coach Luke Fickell was able to keep the Lakewood, Ohio, prospect on board for several weeks, but Kalis eventually backed out of his pledge and immediately began looking north to Ann Arbor.
He bolsters a Michigan class already featuring several heralded line recruits on both sides of the ball.
Should Ohio State be concerned? While Kalis' switch isn't a shock, the Buckeyes have lost several top in-state players -- Kyle Dodson, Greg McMullen -- to other Big Ten programs. The uncertainty surrounding Ohio State seemed more likely to impact the team's national recruiting, but it's important for Fickell and his staff to re-establish themselves a bit on the homefront.
While Ohio produces a ton of FBS talent and the Buckeyes can't land all the top prospects, this would be a good time for a nice in-state surge.
Recruiting news is picking up around the Big Ten, and I have a few thoughts to share.
Here's the latest recruiting scorecard of 2012 verbal commits for Big Ten teams ...
Michigan: 16
Michigan State: 8
Penn State: 8
Ohio State: 8
Northwestern: 8
Wisconsin: 8
Minnesota: 7
Indiana: 5
Illinois: 4
Iowa: 3
Purdue: 3
Nebraska: 3
- ESPN Recruiting has updated its 2012 class rankings, and only two Big Ten squads appear in the new Top 25. Michigan checks in at No. 6, as Brady Hoke and his staff continue their incredible start to recruiting. Penn State is listed at No. 18, thanks to a class already featuring several standout linemen. Who's missing? Ohio State. The Buckeyes have fallen out of the rankings after Kyle Kalis decommitted and several coveted in-state prospects went elsewhere.
- Michigan's recruiting surge is notable, and things could get better if Kalis and fellow Ohioan Chris Wormley, a standout defensive end from Toledo, pick the Maize and Blue. Although Ohio State shouldn't panic so early in the process, it's a bit unsettling to see a number of homegrown prospects go elsewhere. I figured the ongoing turmoil around the program would impact Ohio State's national recruiting more than its local recruiting. While the Buckeyes should continue to scour the Southeast and other areas, they must place a premium on keeping the best Ohio players at home.
- The Wolverines might not be the hottest Big Ten squad on the recruiting trail. That would be Wisconsin, which has picked up three commits in the past 24 hours and could soon add another in offensive lineman Adam DePietro. The Badgers last week bolstered their offensive line with Ohio tackle prospect Kyle Dodson. Wisconsin can't be too far away from cracking some of the national recruiting rankings. The overall quality of recruits seems to be improving for a team that still labels itself as a developmental program.
- Some Michigan State fans were getting restless about recruiting several weeks ago, as archrival Michigan piled up commits and the Spartans seemed to be stuck on four. As coach Mark Dantonio told me last week, "We'll get our guys." Well, they have. Michigan State now has doubled it number of commits and added coveted prospects like defensive end Se'von Pittman. The Spartans also have added two verbals in the past day.
- After securing no verbal commits through May, Indiana has added five since June 12, including linebacker Nick Mangieri. Northwestern also is on a surge, adding four commits since June 7.
- It likely will take at least a year to evaluate Nebraska's recruiting as a Big Ten member. The Huskers are expected to sign a very small class in February, and they're having to be very picky with their scholarship offers. We might not get a full read on how Nebraska's recruiting strategy will change in its new league until the 2013 cycle.
Here's the latest recruiting scorecard of 2012 verbal commits for Big Ten teams ...
Michigan: 16
Michigan State: 8
Penn State: 8
Ohio State: 8
Northwestern: 8
Wisconsin: 8
Minnesota: 7
Indiana: 5
Illinois: 4
Iowa: 3
Purdue: 3
Nebraska: 3
You are the weakest link -- goodbye!
- Recruit Kyle Kalis still could end up as a Buckeye, Ken Gordon writes in The Columbus Dispatch. Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller is among the nation's top impact freshmen, colleague Bruce Feldman writes (Insider).
- Several interesting Northwestern nuggets in this report from the Chicago Tribune's Teddy Greenstein.
- Minnesota adds a commitment to its 2012 class.
- Onward State's Ryan Beckler has an interesting look at the value of Big Ten student football tickets. Wisconsin's single-game tickets are among the cheapest in the league, Andy Baggot writes in the Wisconsin State Journal.
- RichRod dishes on Michigan and his future in a Q&A with Rivals.com's Tom Dienhart. The Wolverines' already impressive 2012 recruiting class could be getting bigger, Jim Russ writes in The Detroit News.
- Iowa video interviews with tackle Markus Zusevics and cornerback Shaun Prater.
- A small number of available scholarships contributed to Nebraska losing an in-state prospect to Iowa, Sam McKewon writes in the Omaha World-Herald.
- Wisconsin's latest recruit has a great name.
- Former Purdue players Keith Smith and Kyle Adams are waiting out the NFL lockout, Mike Carmin writes in The (Lafayette) Journal and Courier. The Boilers add a kicker to their 2012 class.
- Nebraska assistant Ron Brown emphasizes the Husker running back tradition to his players, Brian Christopherson writes in the Lincoln Journal Star.
More fallout from the turmoil in Columbus.
Ohio State has missed out on a couple of big-time in-state recruits since Jim Tressel's resignation and other problems hit the news. Linebacker signee Ejuan Price asked for his release and ended up at Pittsburgh. And late Tuesday came word that Kyle Kalis, one of the top members of the Buckeyes' 2012 class, has decommitted.
Kalis, a 6-foot-5, 300-pound offensive lineman from Lakewood, Ohio, is an ESPNU 150 prospect who is rated as the No. 20 tackle in the class by ESPN.com. He said he is still considering Ohio State, but he plans on visiting Michigan this weekend.
Decommitments happen all the time, which is why summer recruiting news should always be viewed somewhat skeptically. But clearly the potential NCAA sanctions and uncertainty over who will be the head coach at Ohio State next year are hampering the Buckeyes' recruiting efforts. Luke Fickell and his staff have a major challenge in convincing prospects to believe everything will be all right and commit to the school, especially before the NCAA hands down whatever penalties are coming.
Ohio State has missed out on a couple of big-time in-state recruits since Jim Tressel's resignation and other problems hit the news. Linebacker signee Ejuan Price asked for his release and ended up at Pittsburgh. And late Tuesday came word that Kyle Kalis, one of the top members of the Buckeyes' 2012 class, has decommitted.
Kalis, a 6-foot-5, 300-pound offensive lineman from Lakewood, Ohio, is an ESPNU 150 prospect who is rated as the No. 20 tackle in the class by ESPN.com. He said he is still considering Ohio State, but he plans on visiting Michigan this weekend.
Decommitments happen all the time, which is why summer recruiting news should always be viewed somewhat skeptically. But clearly the potential NCAA sanctions and uncertainty over who will be the head coach at Ohio State next year are hampering the Buckeyes' recruiting efforts. Luke Fickell and his staff have a major challenge in convincing prospects to believe everything will be all right and commit to the school, especially before the NCAA hands down whatever penalties are coming.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Adam Rittenberg
Rittenberg joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four years at the Arlington Heights (Ill.) Daily Herald, where he covered sports at Notre Dame, Northwestern, DePaul and several other colleges. He lives in Chicago.
Brian Bennett
Bennett joined ESPN.com in August 2008 after nine years at The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky., where he covered college sports and the University of Louisville beat. He lives in Louisville.
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